Haverhill, NH CLOSED

Man Charged with Neighborhood Sex Crimes
Eagle Tribune
8/30/07

Jose Vega was indicted yesterday by an Essex County grand jury on four counts of rape that link him to the sexual assaults of women in the Mount Washington neighborhood this past year. He was charged with 15 counts, including four counts of aggravated rape, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Connors said."The defendant was linked by way of forensic evidence, including fingerprints," Connors said. "In each instance, it is alleged that the defendant broke into the home and sexually assaulted the female residents."Connors said she could not confirm whether Vega was indicted using DNA evidence collected at crime scenes.

Vega, 34, of 254 Washington St., was arrested in July when police said he broke into a home on Hall Street and threatened to rape a woman. He fled when she started to call police.Police charged Vega with unarmed burglary and assault with intent to rape in the Hall Street incident. He pleaded not guilty in court, and his lawyer said he denies entering the house.

Police have been aggressively looking for Vega this year. In April, they released a sketch to the media of a sexual predator who was terrorizing women, sneaking into homes at night and molesting his victims, who were in bed.In one incident, a victim was in bed sleeping with her two granddaughters. The suspect entered the room and put his finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet. He harshly grabbed her and she screamed, causing the suspect to flee.Police said the man entered apartments between 1 and 5 a.m. through unlocked doors. He approached the victims and in some cases put a kitchen knife to their necks, police said.

He roughly grabbed one woman, leaving bruises, police said. The suspect also has touched the genital area of some victims, police have said.Victims told police that the suspect has a muscular build, medium to dark skin and is between 30 and 40 years old, police said. He had a Spanish accent, his breath often smells of alcohol during attacks and he usually wears a baseball cap. Victims have said he had bulging eyes.

Haverhill District Court Judge Stephen Abany asked The Eagle-Tribune not to publish photographs taken of Jose Vega, 34, of 254 Washington St., during his arraignment yesterday. Abany said police are considering whether Vega is connected to similar incidents and he doesn't want photographs in the newspaper to bias witnesses' judgment.